Practically Perfect in Every Way!

No, I’m not talking about Mary Poppins. And I’m certainly not talking about myself! But I am talking about my day. It’s wedding season, and I’ve been playing 3 every weekend for quite a while now. Couple that with a Sunday morning choir rehearsal and church service and you no longer have anything that even remotely resembles a weekend. Tomorrow I am playing a big concert so I intentionally didn’t accept any weddings for this weekend. I had an 8 a.m. rehearsal this morning and not a single commitment after that! I came home and did laundry and practiced a bit more, but mostly, I lazed in bed and read. I’m reading book 4 in the Sookie Stackhouse series (my buddy Angie is way ahead of me, but never spoils the storyline for me . . . the mark of a true friend). I thought, ‘is this how normal people spend their Saturdays?’ I could definitely get used to this. I also took the day off from school yesterday. It was very productive. I got my piano tuned, picked up the dry cleaning, had a burnt-out headlight fixed, taught a cello lesson, went to the SLU Art Museum to check out a space for my students to perform, went to College Church and rehearsed with Diana and took my cello to Robert to have it adjusted (when my cello doesn’t sound good, I always assume it is operator error, but in this particular case, it was in real need of an adjustment). All that, AND I kept the evening free for knitting!

When I got up this morning, the temperature was in the 50’s! I’m so ready for cooler weather. I’m sure I’ll regret that statement in February, but for now, I’m craving cold. I decided it was the perfect day to inaugurate my Meg Swansen Knitting Camp hoodie. Putting it on reminded me how much I miss my camp buddies. I’m hoping for a reunion before next July.

As usual for this time of year, my knitting time has been limited, but I’ve made a little progress with several things. For some reason I have decided that I need new scarves. To that end, I recently started Anne Hanson’s Hypoteneuse. Why I thought I needed to start a new project rather than finish something in progress, I’m not sure, but I’m enjoying it! It’s easy, mindless and creates a cool looking fabric. Of course, the dreamy Briar Rose Fourth of July that I’m using doesn’t hurt! Here’s look at it:

The photo looks kind of gray-ish, which isn’t the case at all. It’s more camo . . . greens and browns. Fourth of July is a bit heavier than what the pattern calls for, but I like scarves to be big, so the heavier yarn is fine by me.

Erin has named her baby-to-be Nicholas, so I figure if he has a name, I’d better get on with making the blanket. Another fun, easy Anne Hanson pattern.

I’m almost embarrassed to show you the progress on the next one. Not because it’s bad, mind you, but simply because it’s . . . dare I say it . . . another Anne Hanson pattern (please, please, please don’t tell her I’m doing three of her patterns at once. that violates the restraining order she has against me.). Les Abeilles. Why on earth did I think I needed to make the largest version of this? Casting on the 400 stitches was a bit daunting, but like all of her patterns, it’s so well written it’s a pleasure to knit. Of course, I’m done with the lace part of it and I’m down to nothing but garter stitch and the occasional decrease.

I’m using Nyoni for this. It’s nice. I’m completely in love with the color! So in love with the color, in fact that I just bought some Casbah in the same colorway. It’s not quite as saturated with color, but it’s lovely.

I originally thought it might become Anne Hanson’s Obstacles, but the wonderful Evelyn at The Knitty Noddy suggested this, instead.

That’s Handmaiden’s Swiss Mountain Sea Sock. Photos can’t possibly do it justice! I think that will become Obstacles. Now . . . what to do with the Casbah? Suggestions?

Aww, how sweet of you, I got cred…No Sookie spoilers from me, but I loved them all….very different from the TV series. I am kind of at a loss for what to read next. Had Eclipse on my Kindle so I’m re-reading that, but the vampire fixation, I wonder …

I’m going to go look at knittynoddy, I was just there the other day and passed on the Nyoni…I’m not so sure I’ll pass again. If you think I can knit the garter part in a similar gauge, send it to me, I love me some mindless.